Panem Events
Lilac was a mixed-received victor. Parts of Panem loved her personality and artistic expression through dance. Many saw her as resourceful, but many thought she lacked bloodlust. Especially compared to the previous Career victories. Lilac was not afraid to passionately speak about her two kills, and how she had tied for second place in the highest amount of kills in the games. The only Districts that made her feel unwelcomed were District Two and District Six. By the time her Victory Tour ended most of the Capitol's attention was focused on Head Gamemaker Julius Falco and his three apprentices.
Desdemona Tearsheet was selected to go next as she tried her hand at being co-Head Gamemaker along with Julius. The Capitol enjoyed the intricate arena and traps that Scorpius had built the year before. Desdemona felt like she had a lot of pressure going into this year's games. Desdemona already has a history of working with Julius as a regular Gamemaker. She had worked as a Gamemaker for eleven years and felt like she had a good understanding of what Julius appreciated in an arena. Desdemona believed this to be an opportunity for her to make a name for herself and to create a legacy for the Tearsheet name. Desdemona did not release any propaganda of the arena but stated that the arena would be more dangerous than the tributes themselves.
The Career tributes this year were fairly average, with many being only sixteen years old. Hermes and Lush of One were the standouts and both scored a nine in training. Hermes was a quiet but muscular young man, who did not say much during his interview. However, Lush was very extroverted and used her charm to win over many in the Capitol. Another standout was Lyssa Goeke of Four, she was over six feet tall and very slender. She was a champion swimmer in Four and openly talked about wanting a water-based arena after having a desert last year. Her District Partner, Kelp, was a very skinny and short man. He scored an eight in training and seemed to be the weakest of the Careers. The District Two pair, Renner and Magdalena, were both seen as being averaged and only scored eights in training. They both seemed less than enthusiastic to be in the Capitol, even though both had volunteered for the games. Magdalena even got teary-eyed in her interview when talking about her family at home in Two.
As for the outliers, there were a few standouts. A strong alliance of Isaac of Five, Lindsey of Seven, and the District Ten pair, Boone and Montana, was formed. All four tributes were seen as having a good chance of winning. Isaac a tall and lanky boy had surprisingly good aim with a spear. Lindsey had a slight limp from a bone infection she had as a toddler but made up for it with her excellent axe-wielding skills. Boone and Montana were both large and muscular. Montana had excellent aim with throwing knives and Boone preferred a bow. Another alliance consisted of Cirket of Three and Lulu of Eight, which both scored low in training and were not fan favorites. An alliance between the District Eleven and Twelve tributes also formed with its leader being William of Twelve.
xXx
Tributes
District One- Male: Hermes Mangan, 16 (9) Female: Lush Alton, 16 (9)
District Two- Male: Renner Sanders, 16 (8) Female: Magdalena O'Campo, 17 (8)
District Three- Male: Yahu O'Neil, 15 (4) Female: Cirket Norris, 18 (3)
District Four- Male: Kelp Gousser, 16 (8) Female: Lyssa Goeke, 18 (9)
District Five- Male: Isaac Jules, 16 (7) Female: Janess Vilvan, 18 (5)
District Six- Male: Geer Kawsar, 15 (6) Female: Avia Tran, 14 (4)
District Seven- Male: Blight Sesler, 12 (4) Female: Lindsey Savage, 17 (6)
District Eight- Male: Jersey Gaul, 16 (6) Female: Lulu Nomell, 13 (4)
District Nine- Male: Abe Kilgore, 16 (5) Female: Rita Greendale, 16 (5)
District Ten- Male: Boone Denton, 15 (8) Female: Montana Brizuela, 18 (7)
District Eleven- Male: Aaron Pick, 12 (3) Female: Deila Kannon, 15 (4)
District Twelve- Male: William Yee, 16 (5) Female: Elizabeth Jeffrey, 18 (5)
xXx
Day One
The tributes rise into the arena wearing grey jumpsuits with their District number embroidered on the right sleeve and black sneakers. A thin fog covers the arena and covers parts of the rocky field that the Cornucopia sits in with supplies surrounding it. The field that the Cornucopia is set in is surrounded by large black rocks that will make traversing away from the Cornucopia challenging. The Cornucopia sits in a shallow crater and the tributes will have to climb over the rocks at a slight incline to escape. These large boulders go on for about two hundred feet before ending in a flat plain of hard ground. On the plain are large rock formations that will provide some shelter for the tributes. The southern and northern sections have a thin grouping of birch trees and underbrush. Within these small forests are two ponds that provide the only water source in the arena. The most unique aspect of the arena is the large and boiling tar pits scattered across the arena. Pools of tar run adjacent to the pedestals that the tributes stand on and lead towards the Cornucopia. Streams and plashes of tar are scattered throughout the plains surrounding the Cornucopia. The countdown ends with a gong and the tributes take off. The only tribute to flee the Bloodbath is Blight of Seven.
Lush leaps from her pedestal and over the tar surrounding it. She dashes towards the Cornucopia. Near the mouth of the Cornucopia, she finds a belt of throwing knives lying on top of a crate. She quickly straps it around her waist and pulls out two knives. She hastily looks through the misty fog and sees Janess of Five. Janess sprints from the side of Cornucopia and reaches down to grab a pack from the ground. Lush throws a knife and makes the first kill as it pierces Janess's chest.
24. Janess Vilvan, D5- knife thrown into the chest by Lush Alton, D1
Montana runs along the stream of tar toward the Cornucopia. A few feet ahead is Deila the girl from Eleven. Montana is much bulkier than the thin and frail girl from Eleven. Montana catches up to Deila and shoves her to the side. Deila is flung into the tar pit. Deila screams as the hot tar burns her skin and starts to cover her whole body. Deila thrashes as the pain intensifies, but she is not strong enough to pull herself free. Her heart stops and her body begins to sink into the boiling tar.
23. Deila Kannon, D11- shoved into tar pit by Montana Brizuela, D10
Avia flings open a crate on the backside of the Cornupia. She rummages through it and grabs a tarp, a small knife, and a medium-sized backpack. There is a whirlwind of people running around her. Avia moves along the edge of the Cornucopia as two tributes sprint by her. Her eyes follow the path of the two tributes and she doesn't realize that they are running away from Renner. Avia turns and sees Renner running towards her with his sword pointing towards her. Avia barely has time to scream before he slashes his sword across her chest.
22. Avia Tran, D6- chest slashed by Renner Sanders, D2
Renner slashes his sword across the small girl's chest. He moves along the Cornucopia's edge back to the mouth of the Cornucopia. In the chaos of the battle, he does not hear Lindsey run up behind him. Lindsey hacks her axe into Renner's back three times before he falls to the ground. Lindsey doesn't stick around before running away to find a new target.
21. Renner Sanders, D2- axe hacked into back by Lindsey Savage, D7
Isaac dashes across the Bloodbath field. He picks up a spear near the mouth of the Cornucopia and heads back towards the tail. He sees Rita, the quiet girl from Nine, running towards him. She sprints along one of the tar pits edges. She stops to pick up a small backpack. Isaac aims and throws his spear into her chest. She falls back onto the hard ground. Isaac hurries over to her and pulls his spear from her chest as she starts to cough up blood. He then leaves to find his allies.
20. Rita Greendale, D9- spear thrown into the chest by Isaac Jules, D5
Lush sprints around the Cornucopia as she searches for any of the stronger outlier tributes. She spots Montana running towards the Cornucopia. Montana is the physically strongest female in the games. Lush throws a knife at Montana and it sticks in Montana's left leg. Montana stumbles and almost falls to the ground but catches herself. Montana yells in rage and charges at Lush. Lush is unphased and throws another knife. This one hits Montana in the center of her chest. Montana falls to the ground and doesn't get back up.
19. Montana Brizuela, D10- knife thrown into the chest by Lush Alton, D1
Elizabeth digs through a crate near the tail of the Cornucopia. She finds a crate filled with food and fills her backpack with the food. She also finds a long dagger at the bottom of the crate. She takes it as well, before looking around for her allies. She sees her district partner, William, fighting with the boy from Six not too far away. She slings her backpack on and starts to sprint across the Bloodbath field. She is about to call out William's name when she is tackled from the side. Lyssa, the tall girl from Four, pins Elizabeth to the ground. Elizabeth tries to buck Lyssa off of her, but Lyssa is too heavy. Elizabeth slices her knife across Lyssa's arm. Lyssa grabs Elizabeth's wrist and bashes it against the hard ground until Elizabeth lets go of her dagger. Lyssa hisses at Elizabeth, "You little monster!" Lyssa punches Elizabeth in the face until blood fills her mouth. Lyssa finishes her off by slashing a knife across Elizabeth's throat.
18. Elizabeth Jeffrey, D12- throat slashed by Lyssa Goeke, D4
Lyssa stands up from Elizabeth's body as blood gushes from her neck. Lyssa curses and grabs her arm where Elizabeth slashed her dagger. Adrenaline courses through Lyssa's body as she glances around for a new target. She sees Kelp fighting some small boy from an outer District. She tries to see if any of her other Career allies need help. She turns around and gasps, Boone is standing there with his bow taught. Lyssa takes a few steps toward Boone with her knife in hand, but Boone is quick to release the arrow. The arrow pierces Lyssa's neck and she falls to the ground gurgling on her blood as she tries to yell for help.
17. Lyssa Goeke, D4- arrow shot into neck by Boone Denton, D10
Kelp fights against the boy from Eleven, Aaron. Kelp has his trident and plays with Aaron as he jumps and rolls around to evade Kelp's attacks. Aaron rolls on the ground and jumps to his feet behind Kelp. Aaron jumps onto Kelp's back, but Kelp easily flips Aaron over his shoulder and onto the ground. "That's enough playing around you field rat," Aaron yells in shock as Kelp thrusts his trident into Aaron's chest.
16. Aaron Pick, D11- stabbed in the chest by Kelp Gousser, D4
Isaac finds his allies, Boone and Lindsey, on the outer edge of the Bloodbath. "Where is Montana?" he asks. Boone looks towards the Cornucopia where Montana's body lies on the ground, "She didn't make it." Isaac only nods his head as the trio begins their descent out of the basin. The rocks leading out of the hollow aren't too terrible to ascend but it does take some time. The three strong tributes make good time and even catch up to the boy from Three, Yahu. Yahu had slipped and cut a gash in his calf. His foot got stuck in the crevice between two boulders. As the three make their way toward Yahu they discuss what to do with him. Once they approach him, Isaac chooses to go ahead and give him a quick death before the Careers get to him. Isaac stabs Yahu in the back with his spear and his heart stops almost immediately.
15. Yahu O'Neil, D3- stabbed in the back by Isaac Jules, D5
Back at the Cornucopia, William and Geer battle in a sword fight. They traversed across the Bloodbath field and now fight along the edge of the basin near the boulder leading out. Both tributes are sloppy with their swords and have suffered many cuts from each other. Geer slashes his sword at William's face but William manages to deflect the blow. Williams spins around and sees an opening. William slashes his sword across Geer's abdomen. Geer's intestines fall out onto the ground and William almost vomits at the sight. Geer collapses as he tries to gather his intestines in his arm. William takes the opportunity to flee up the rocky incline and leaves Geer behind to die.
14. Geer Kawsar, D6- stabbed in the abdomen by William Yee, D12
Abe of Nine and Jersey of Ten are the last two outer tributes at the Bloodbath. Hermes of One watches as the two tributes wrestle on the ground over a large backpack. Hermes watches like a cat as the two mice fight over a measle portion of cheese. Abe and Jersey roll over one another and get close to one of the tar pits. Jersey gets on top of Abe, but Abe manages to get his foot up and in between the two. Abe kicks Jersey off of him and Jersey's arm lands in the tar pit. Jersey yells in pain as he tries to pull his arm out of the boiling tar. Abe rolls Jersey over into the pit. Jersey thrashes in pain until he eventually stops moving.
13. Jersey Gaul, D8- shoved into tar pit by Abe Kilgore, D9
Abe stands in shock as Jersey's body starts to sink in the tar. Hermes watches as Abe heaves to catch his breath after the intense fight. Hermes takes his sword and stabs it into Abe's chest. Abe looks up in shock and blood bursts from his mouth. Hermes then lifts Abe off the ground and throws him back into the tar pit. Hermes watches with a smile as Abe struggles in the tar before sinking below the surface.
12. Abe Kilgore, D9- stabbed in the chest by Hermes Mangan, D1
The remaining Careers regroup at the Cornucopia as the rest of the tributes flee. Blight left the Cornucopia without gaining any supplies and he finds shelter in a shallow gorge that resembles a dry riverbed in the eastern side of the arena. Cirket of Three and Lulu of Eight run south to the small forest there and find shelter in one of the birch trees. Cirket managed to get a small pack from the Bloodbath containing two knives, rope, and a metal bowl. The alliance of Isaac, Lindsey, and Boone runs north to the birch forest there. They find one of the small ponds of water and make camp nearby, they each gained ample supplies from the Cornucopia. Boone receives a sponsor's gift of beef and pork stew that he shares with Isaac and Lindsey in memory of their ally, Montana. William lost all of his allies in the Bloodbath and he runs west towards the large inselberg rock formation. He discovers a small cave in the granite rockface. William got a dagger, a loaf of bread, and a bottle of water from the Cornucopia.
Day Two
The Careers gather their hunting gear and head south to hunt for the day. Lush stays to guard the Cornucopia and states that she needs to organize the supplies for her mental health. Hermes, Magdelena, and Kelp make it to the grove of birch trees in the southern portion of the arena. They scour the woods for hours before taking a break and refilling their canteens at the pond. Magdelena is refilling the trio's canteens when she sees a rustling of reeds on the opposite side of the pond. A flash of blonde hair disappears deeper into the forest. Magdelena looks over to Kelp and Hermes but they are in conversation and do not see the other tribute. Magdelena doesn't say anything and the group continues on their way.
Cirket flees from the pond with the bowl of water pressed against her chest. She had left Lulu in the tree to find a water source. She had seen Magdelena at the pond and sprinted away as fast as she could. Cirket looks over her shoulder and doesn't see any of the Careers following her but she doesn't stop until she reaches the tree Lulu is waiting in. Lulu waves her hand at Cirket and Cirket points a finger over her mouth. "The Careers are nearby we have to be quiet and hide." Cirket climbs up the tree and they stay there for the rest of the day.
Isaac, Lindsey, and Boone hunt for tributes for a few hours before returning to their camp near the pond. The remaining tributes all stay close to their camps. Blight stays in the dried river bed and Williams remains in his cave.
Day Three
Magdelena volunteers to stay at the Cornucopia and uses the excuse of having a headache. In actuality, the gore and experiencing death have completely shocked her. In the pregames, the stress and emotional turmoil of the games hit her heavily. After her District Partner, Renner, died in the Bloodbath she can't bring herself to kill someone. She doesn't even want to see anyone else die. That is why she didn't say anything yesterday at the pond, but she can't continue pretending with the other Careers. Magdelena knows that the others already see her as a liability and if they think she's useless to them they will turn on her.
Hermes, Lush, and Kelp head east in search of tributes. The area is much more flat and there are fewer rock formations for tributes to hide in. The Careers search all the nooks and crannies of large granite boulders piled together and find no signs of tributes. Kelp climbs to the apex of the pile, "There is a small valley about a mile from here." It takes them almost thirty minutes to reach the shallow gorge. They carefully skid down the steep incline and reach the floor almost twelve feet below. They talk nonchalantly when Hermes spots movement ahead. "I don't know if that is a mutt or tribute but I call dibs on taking it down."
Hermes talks off in a sprint with Kelp and Lush following behind. Kelp yells that it's unfair for Hermes to call dibs, but Hermes only laughs back. Hermes is the fastest of the Careers and he gains ground on the unknown target. Blight is walking along when he hears Hermes's laughter behind him. Blight shouts in fear and takes off in the opposite direction and heads downstream. Hermes legs are much stronger and faster than the twelve-year-old boy from Seven's are. Blight is lithe and speeds along the riverbank walls until he meets a dead end. A large pool of tar covers the whole portion of the gorge. With no other option, Blight begins running up the side. Hermes catches up to Blight and grabs the boy's leg before dragging him back down to the ground. Hermes kicks Blight in the gut. Blight curls up into a fetal position to protect himself. Kelp and Lush approach as Hermes picks up Blight and tosses him into the tar pit. Hermes laughs as Blight struggles in the tar and screams in pain. Eventually, Blight gets exhausted and sinks below the surface with his cannon soon booming. Hermes continues to laugh and mocks Blight's cries to Lush and Kelp who only look at him with disgust.
11. Blight Sesler, D7- shoved into tar pit by Hermes Mangan, D1
Isaac, Lindsey, and Boone spend the day creating snare traps in the north woods after Lindsey noticed a few squirrels in the trees. They use a spool of wire from one of the packs they got from the Bloodbath. Lindsey and Isaac have the best trap-making skills and they work on the snares while Boone stands guard. Boone tries to shoot a few squirrels with his arrows but he ends up losing three arrows and does not kill any squirrels. After returning to their camp by the pond that evening, Isaac proposes a plan.
"What if tomorrow we try to ambush the Career guarding the Cornucopia?"
Boone and Lindsey both look at him in shocked silence, before Boone ends up muttering, "Uh...what plan do you have for that?"
"The Career pack typically only leaves one Career to guard the Cornucopia while the rest go hunting. I think we should be able to overtake any Career that is there as long as we work together. If it's three against one, we shouldn't have much problem, I'm confident about this."
Lindsey speaks next, "I think it only depends on who is guarding the Cornucopia. I don't want to face off against Lush or Hermes. Lush has her throwing knives and Hermes's brute strength may be too much. However, if it's Magdelena or Kelp then I am in." Boone agrees with Lindsey and so as the sun sets the trio formulate a plan to take out a Career.
Day Four
Magdelena and Kelp wake up before Lush and Hermes. Kelp retells the story of how Hermes taunted and mocked Blight's death to Magdelena. Magdelena begins to cry at the thought. "Please, let me stay here today. I can't experience that. Hermes is a monster. These games are horrifying. I didn't think this was going to be hard."
Kelp pats Magedelena's back, "I am concerned about Hermes. He seems to enjoy killing too much, but he isn't even killing the other tributes. He's torturing them and watching them die."
Magdelena wipes the tears from her eyes, "Please don't tell them I cried. I don't want to seem weak to them. Without this alliance, I won't make it."
"I'll look out for you. You are my best ally as of now anyway. I think Lush gets annoyed by Hermes but she won't betray him. At least not yet. I promise to try and protect you," Kelp says back.
Magdelena gives him a tight hug, and then the duo starts to cook bacon for breakfast. Not long after, Lush and Hermes wake up and they all get ready for the day. The group prepares to go hunting, and Magdelena volunteers once again to stay behind to guard the Cornucopia. She states that she still isn't feeling well and that she has a migraine. Hermes rolls his eyes but no one voices any complaints. Kelp assures her that it is fine for her to stay behind. Lush, Hermes, and Kelp then head west toward the inselberg.
In the northern part of the arena, Issac, Lindsey, and Boone prepare to head south toward the Cornucopia to enact their plan. The plan is to split up once they reach the crater that holds the Cornucopia. Boone will travel along the rim to the edge facing the mouth of the Cornucopia while Lindsey and Isaac travel down the backside. The goal is to attack from both sides to surprise the Career and hopefully subdue them. The group is anxious, but Isaac provides positive affirmations on their trek. The group nears the Cornucopia and Boone splits away from Lindsey and Isaac. Isaac and Lindsey wait a few minutes before making their way down to the Cornucopia.
Magdelena sits in a cushioned camping chair inside the Cornucopia while humming to herself and drawing in the dirt with the tip of a spear. The sound of loose gravel falling catches her attention. Fear courses through her body, and she tries to convince herself that the other Careers just came back early. Magdelena drops the spear and picks up an axe, a weapon she mastered in the comforts of the Academy in Two. She exits the Cornucopia and heads toward the backside. She spots Isaac and Lindsey hopping down from a boulder onto the flat ground surrounding the Cornucopia. Magdelena shouts in fear before turning to run away. Isaac and Lindsey are shocked by Magdelena's reaction. They chase after her anyway. Isaac throws his spear, but Magdelena ducks and turns out of view in front of the Cornucopia. She runs to the edge of the crater and begins to climb the boulders leading out. Magdelena begins to cry and looks down at Isaac and Lindsey who stare up at her. Magdelena turns back and her breath catches. Boone stands almost twenty feet away. He holds his bow up with an arrow taut. Magdelena closes her eyes as Boone releases the arrow and it impales her chest. The force knocks her back and she tumbles down the hillside. She bounces off the boulders and her bones crack and snap before she lands on the hard ground with a thud.
10. Magdelena O'Campo, D2- arrow shot into the chest by Boone Denton, D10
Boone climbs down and meets Lindsey and Isaac at the Cornucopia, "You were right, Isaac, that was easy. I have never seen a Career run away from a tribute before."
"I almost feel bad for her, but she did volunteer to be here," Isaac says trying not to look at Magdelena's battered body.
The trio quickly restock their supplies. They fill their bags with water, food, first aid kits, two blankets, a tarp, and a few extra knives. They prepare to leave when Isaac proposes another plan, "Would it be horrible to ruin their food supply?" A devilish grin spreads across Lindsey's face and Boone is giddy at the thought. The group spends almost an hour pouring out filled water bottles and canteens. They smash fruit, bread, and meats under their feet while rubbing them into the dirt. Lindsey even finds a box of chocolate chip cookies that they squeeze into a backpack for later. Satisfied with their efforts they climb out of the crater and head north toward their camp.
The hunting Careers have no luck in finding tributes. They came close to finding William's cave, but they didn't climb high enough on the inselberg before deciding to head back to the Cornucopia. William had noticed the approaching Careers earlier in the day, and he pressed himself against the backside of his cave and willed himself to be silent. The alliance of Cirket and Lulu continues to stay within the southern woods. They make a few deadfall traps in hopes of catching some type of prey for food.
Once Lush, Hermes, and Kelp return to the Cornucopia chaos ensues. Hermes starts cussing up a storm at the sight of almost all of their food being destroyed. Lush almost starts crying. "Wait, where is Mags?" Kelp asks looking around for her.
"What?! She's gone? Of course, that whore must have stolen some supplies, destroyed the rest, and then took off. I knew she was being suspicious, wanting to stay here for two days straight instead of hunting for tributes. She betrayed us!" Hermes shouts in anger. He picks up a crate and throws it against the Cornucopia wall and it causes a sword rack to topple over.
"No...she wouldn't betray us. I don't believe that," Kelp responds in defense.
"A cannon went off today, could it have been hers?" Lush adds.
"No way! She's a Career, she's ruthless. We all chose to be here. Besides what outer-district scumbag would be brave enough to attack the Cornucopia with a Career on guard," Hermes shouts back. He begins to recklessly scavage through crates looking for any food or water. "I'm leaving. I can't just stay here when a traitor is out there. I'm going to kill that bitch even if it's the last thing I do."
"Now, Hermes, wait a minute. You need to calm down. We don't need to separate. You don't even know what direction she went in or if she is even alive," Lush says trying to soothe her District Partner.
Hermes shoves Lush back, "You can't stop me. Get out of my way before I make you get out of my way."
Lush steps back with her mouth agape. She and Kelp watch silently as Hermes starts to throw random supplies into his pack before picking up a sword and leaving the Cornucopia. He heads east expecting Magdelena to pick the least likely direction to go. The sun starts to set and Hermes sets up camp along a rock outcropping. It is too dangerous to walk around the arena at night because there are too many tar pits and rivers that blend too well with the shadows. A few hours later the anthem plays and Magdelena's face displays across the sky. Hermes shouts into the sky in rage because he hates being wrong. He punches the rock wall and curses as he feels a bone snap in his hand. Hermes uses all of his might to not cry. He decides to not go back to Lush and Kelp because his pride won't allow him to admit he was wrong. Meanwhile, back at the Cornucopia Kelp silently cries for Magdelena and wonders what caused her death.
Day Five
Isaac is the first to wake up from his alliance. He goes to use the bathroom and on his way back he receives a sponsor's gift from his successful plan from yesterday. He gets a large baguette of bread from District Five. It is savory, with mozzarella cheese inside and braized on the top covered with a seasoned oil glazed. He wakes up Lindsey and Boone and the group shares it for breakfast. They decide to relax for the day after having so much excitement the day before.
Lush and Kelp stay at the Cornucopia for the day. They decide to wait and see if Hermes returns or whatever killed Magdelena shows up. However, the day passes slowly as nobody shows up. Kelp and Lush share awkward small talk but without Hermes there to order them around they spend most of the day in silence.
Cirket and Lulu build more deadfall traps after having no luck from the day before. They spend the morning making traps around the pond. In the afternoon Lulu shows Cirket how to weave the reeds surrounding the pond into fish traps. Lulu makes three fish traps out of reeds and she uses small rocks to weigh them down onto the floor of the pond. Cirket almost successfully makes a fish trap before it unravels in her arms. Cirket gets frustrated by Lulu reassures her that she will get it eventually.
William remains near the inselberg. He ventures out of his cave for short amounts of time. He has begun to ration his water and food supply. He hasn't found a water source yet. However, he did find a bird's nest with four eggs inside it. The eggs are about the size of his fist and blue. He doesn't see what bird laid the eggs but he takes all four and goes back to his cave. He decides that he will only eat an egg a day until he finds another food source.
Hermes spends the day roaming the eastern portion of the arena. His hand is throbbing, swollen, and almost useless. He is unable to grip his sword and has to use his non-dominant left hand. He didn't take a first aid kit from the Cornucopia so he has nothing to help with the pain or swelling. He also didn't grab any water to bring with him either and he finished the last bit he had last night. He yells at the sky for sponsors to send him medication or water but nothing comes for him.
Day Six
The day passes similarly to the day before. Lush and Kelp stay at the Cornucopia waiting once again to see if Hermes returns. Lush spends most of the morning organizing whatever food supply remains. She finds half a loaf of bread, a packet of dried banana chips, and half a canteen of water. It isn't nearly enough supplies for both her and Kelp. William remains in his cave and eats one of the bird eggs raw as his meal for the day. Lulu and Cirket spend the day weaving more fish traps. Lulu assists Cirket in making her first successful trap. Isaac, Lindsey, and Boone hunt for tributes in the northern woods but have no luck. Hermes continues to hunt for tributes in the eastern part of the arena but the pain in his hand and thirst disorients his mind. He continues to curse at the Capitolites and even the Gamemakers that he deserves a sponsor's gift. Of course, none come for him.
Day Seven
Lush and Kelp decide that Hermes is never coming back and they prepare to go hunting for tributes. They gather their weapons and supplies for the day before heading to the northern forest. Isaac, Lindsey, and Boone are checking their snare traps when the sound of Lush and Kelp talking catches their attention. Isaac whispers a plan to Boone and Lindsey to separate and lead the Careers to a stream of tar deep in the forest. Boone heads back and around to flank Lush and Kelp. Isaac points north and Lindsey takes off. With her limp, she is the slowest of the three outliers so Isaac and Boone will give her a head start. Isaac sprints across Kelp's and Lush's point of view. The two Careers go to chase after Isaac but an arrow shoots from behind them. The that Boone shot goes over Lush's shoulder and she turns around in confusion. Kelp sprints after Isaac while Lush goes after Boone. Boone and Isaac know the forest well and they lead Lush and Kelp north where it gets much thicker. Lush tries to throw a knife at Boone but he weaves through the trees and she misses him. Boone and Isaac race out of the thicket and jump across a six-foot wide stream of black tar. Lush is unaware of the stream and she runs out and steps into the tar. Her foot sinks into the sticky black substance and she shouts, "Kelp help! I'm stuck in the tar!"
Kelp watches Isaac sprint out of sight and follows Lush's cries for help. He finds her with her left foot stuck in the tar. It surrounds her left leg just above the ankle. She reaches out to Kelp, "Help pull me out. It's burning my skin!" Kelp rushes over. He grips Lush's arms and pulls her free from the tar as she screams in pain. The tar rips the top layer of her skin off her ankle and her foot is pulled free from her shoe. "Are you alright?" Kelp asks. Lush nods her head. The duo rests by the stream of tar before heading back to the Cornucopia. Kelp assists Lush as she limps on her injured foot. Back at the Cornucopia, Kelp finds a first aid kit. He rubs a salve on her ankle and wraps it with a bandage. Lush also receives a sponsor's gift of a new boot to match the one she lost.
In the eastern part of the arena, Hermes roams the area in confusion. He hasn't had any water in days and his hand still throbs in pain. The Capitol has been deterred by his behavior and vulgar exclamations. A group of three saber-toothed tiger mutts emerge from a cave in the shallow gorge. They are nine feet long with fiery orange fur and nine-inch fangs protruding from their mouth. Hermes is walking through the gorge when the three mutts appear in his view. He yells a warcry and raises his sword high before charging the mutts. Hermes haphazardly swings his sword with his left hand at the face of one of the mutts, but the saber-toothed tiger is much faster. It snaps its jaws on Hermes's arm and he howls in pain. Another tiger slashes its claws across Hermes's chest and he falls to the ground. The mutts continue to maul Hermes until his cannon booms.
9. Hermes Mangan, D1- killed by saber-toothed tiger mutts
This leaves the Final Eight: Lush Alton of One, Cirket Norris of Three, Kelp Gousser of Four, Isaac Jules of Five, Lindsey Savage of Seven, Lulu Nomell of Eight, Boone Denton of Ten, and William Yee of Twelve.
Lulu and Cirket check their fish and deadfall traps and are excited to find that they caught two fish and a squirrel. Lulu skins the animals while Cirket works on making a fire. Cirket spent a whole day in training learning to make fire and it takes her a few hours but she eventually creates a small fire. The girls roast their first real meal in days and spend the evening celebrating their successful day.
Day Eight
Lulu and Cirket wake up to the smell of smoke and intense heat. They didn't put out their fire after dinner and now it has spread around them. The girls quickly gather their supplies and race through the forest to the rocky plain. They cough on the smoke and are exhausted from the heat. The fire spreads and almost half of the forest is in flames before a rain shower starts throughout the arena. Cirket and Lulu travel in the rain before finding shelter under the ledge of a rock outcropping.
The rain wakes William in his cave and he greedily opens his mouth up to the rain. He cups his hands and slurps up the rain. He opens his water bottle and leaves it open out in the rain in hopes that it will fill up. He goes back to sleep and when he wakes up the next morning it is halfway filled.
At daylight, Isaac, Lindsey, and Boone wake up and check a few snare traps. They catch three squirrels and Boone cooks them over a fire. The group stays near their encampment by the pond after their encounter yesterday.
Lush and Kelp notice the half-burnt southern forest and decide to search there for any signs of injured tributes. On their journey, Kelp points out Lulu and Cirket sitting in the shade of a large butte. The Careers run towards them. Cirket notices the approaching Careers and stands up to run away. Lulu is slower and Lush quickly throws two knives in the young girl's chest. Kelp sprints after Cirket and although Cirket is taller than him, Kelp manages to catch up to her. He lunges out with his trident and it pierces Cirket's back and she trips and falls to the ground. Kelp stabs his trident once again into Cirket's back and her cannon booms.
8. Lulu Nomell, D8- knife thrown into the chest by Lush Alton, D1
7. Cirket Norris, D3- stabbed in the back by Kelp Gousser, D4
Day Nine
The morning passes slowly as the tribute do their regular daily routines. Isaac, Lindsey, and Boone venture around the northern woods. Lush and Kelp hunt for tributes in the eastern part of the arena. Williams stays within his cave and eats his last remaining egg. Around mid-afternoon, Desdemona's voice booms across the arena, "Attention tributes! Tomorrow at noon a feast will be held at the Cornucopia. It will be in your best interest to attend. As always may the odds be ever in your favor." The rest of the day is spent with the tributes creating a plan for the feast tomorrow.
Day Ten
Lush and Kelp stay at the Cornucopia in the morning to prepare for the feast. Isaac elaborates a new plan for Boone and Lindsey, one that is similar to what they used to ambush Magdelena. William however decides to not go to the feast. He only has a dagger and doesn't believe he would survive if he went. Instead, he plans to go to the northern woods and maybe that will appease the Gamemakers.
At noon, a silver table rises in front of the Cornucopia containing a wide assortment of food. There is fresh ham, turkey, venison, a colorful display of fruits, and plenty of sweet-smelling desserts. Lush and Kelp greedily start to devour the food starting with the desserts. The meal is cut short when an arrow ricochets off the table. Kelp looks up to see Boone standing on one of the boulders halfway up the crater. Lush throws a knife but Boone is too far away to hit. Kelp charges Boone with a trident in hand.
Lush goes to follow Kelp, but she gets speared in the leg by Isaac. He had thrown his spear from the other side of the crater. He was aiming for her back but this gives Lindsey enough time to charge in. Lush removes the spear from her calf and rolls over onto her back. This exposes herself to Lindsey. Lindsey hacks her axe into Lush's chest as Isaac runs by. He picks up his spear and goes after Kelp and Boone.
6. Lush Alton, D1- axe hacked into the chest by Lindsey Savage, D7
Kelp chases Boone across the large rocks lining the crater. Boone only has two arrows left and he doesn't want to waste them. He only has to keep Kelp busy until Isaac or Lindsey can help. Kelp is much more agile than Boone and it's easier for him to leap from rock to rock. Kelp gains ground on Boone. Boone aims and shoots an arrow at Kelp but he misses. Boone loses his footing and he slips into a crevice between two rocks. His foot is lodged and he shoots another arrow. This one lands in Kelp's thigh but it hardly slows him down. Kelp catches up to Boone. Boone swings his bow at Kelp but it's useless. Kelp stabs his trident into Boone's chest.
5. Boone Denton, D10- stabbed in the chest by Kelp Gousser, D4
"NO!" Isaac shouts from behind Kelp. Isaac leaps from a boulder and plunges his spear into Kelp's chest. The force knocks both boys to the ground. Kelp struggles to breathe and lies on the ground clutching his chest. Isaac steadily makes it back to his feet and he pulls the spear from Kelp's chest.
4. Kelp Gousser, D4- spear stabbed into the chest by Isaac Jules, D5
Lindsey and Isaac regroup at the Cornucopia. They mourn Boone's death but Lindsey still congratulates Isaac on his well-thought-out plan. Isaac feels guilty for not trying to throw his spear and potentially saving Boone's life, but if he had missed Kelp could've killed both of them. Isaac and Lindsey eat their fill of food, before deciding to split up to hunt for the last living tribute, William. They split apart at the rim of the crater. Lindsey heads to the northern woods, while Isaac goes west toward the inselberg.
Day Eleven
Lindsey roams around the northern woods while Isaac hunts the western part of the arena. They both look for William but are unsuccessful. William is in the northern woods when a saber-tooth tiger mutt emerges from the underbrush. William runs away from the mutt, but the tiger isn't programmed to kill William but instead to taunt him. This is his punishment for skipping the feast. The mutt leads William far away from Lindsey on the other side of the forest. The mutt chases William for almost twenty minutes before William attempts to climb a tree. William barely has enough strength to pull himself up onto the first branch but adreniline courses through him. The tiger mutt jumps at William and claws William's leg. Five deep cuts slash across William's calf and he hollers in pain. William manages to climb higher in the tree where the mutt is unable to reach him. The mutt doesn't leave though and instead curls up under the tree. William doesn't have any bandages and he lost his knife in the chase. He removes his grey jumpsuit and wraps that around his calf to stop the blood. He sits on a thin branch in his white underwear about halfway up the tree. The loss of blood and exhaustion causes him to fall asleep.
Day Twelve
William wakes up and is surprised to see that the saber-tooth tiger mutt has left. William cautiously tries to climb down from the tree but his foot slips on a branch. He falls six feet to the ground and he lands on his back. William struggles to sit up and the air is knocked out of him. He manages to crawl to the base of the tree before passing out again.
Lindsey is hunting for William when she finds him passed out on the ground. She shouts at him and kicks at his foot but William only moans in pain. She notices the blood-soaked jumpsuit wrapped around his leg. He is still in his white underwear that has been dirtied by the ground. Lindsey notices his protruding ribs and she feels sympathetic towards the young man. Lindsey swings her axe into his neck to put him out of his misery.
3. William Yee, D12- axe hacked into neck by Lindsey Savage, D7
This leaves the final two between Isaac and Lindsey. They have been allies since day one and now they will have to face off in the finale. Lindsey cries at the thought of facing off against her friend. In the west, the cannon catches Isaac's attention and he knows that he will either have to kill Lindsey or she's already dead. The Gamemakers let the final two rest the remainder of the day although neither gets much sleep that evening.
Day Thirteen
Isaac stirs before daybreak. He believes that Lindsey will still be in the northern woods. He doesn't want to get surprised by her so he waits on the rocky plain a few meters from the border of the forest. Lindsey wakes later and she expects the finale to happen at the Cornucopia so she grabs her axe and starts south. She emerges from the forest and sees Isaac standing there waiting for her. Fear courses through both of them. "Are you going to kill me, Isaac?" Lindsey asks with shaking breath.
"I wish you the best of luck, Lindsey," Isaac shouts back.
Lindsey grips her axe and charges. Isaac contemplates throwing his spear but he has to give his friend a chance. Lindsey swings her axe at Isaac. Isaac is much stronger and uses his spear to deflect the blow. His long arms allow him to lunge forward and he finds an opening. His spear pierces Lindsey in the chest and she crumbles to the ground. Tears fall from both tribute's eyes. Isaac stares down at his friend as she dies. Her blonde hair is flared around her head, he notices a leaf within the grimy mess. He focuses on her icy blue eyes that are bloodshot from lack of sleep. The blue eyes that reminded him so much of his mother's. He focuses on a freckle on her right cheek as Lindsey struggles to breathe. His eyes blur from the tears but he remains focused on that freckle until her cannon sounds.
2. Lindsey Savage, D7- spear stabbed into the chest by Isaac Jules, D5
Isaac stands to his feet as tears continue to fall from his eyes. "Congratulations, Isaac Jules of District Five. You are the Victor of the 98th Hunger Games!"
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Blog: unitedvictors. blogspot. com
Facts about the Victor
Isaac is the first openly gay male to win the Hunger Games post-Mockingjay Rebellion. His strategy of an outer alliance ambushing the Career on guard at the Cornucopia would be replicated many times in the future.
Appearance: Isaac is 6'3 and slender. He has short blonde hair, pale skin, and blue eyes.
Family: Isaac has two older sisters and a younger brother. Jules marries at the age of 22 and adopts a son and then has twin girls through a surrogate. None of his descendants participate in the Games.
Death: Isaac dies from stomach cancer at the age of 76 one month before the 158th Games.
xXx
Hunger Games Kills
Lush Alton, D1 (3)- (Janess Vilvan D5, Montana Brizuela D10, Lulu Nomell D8)
Hermes Mangan, D1 (2)- (Abe Kilgore D9, Blight Sesler D7)
Renner Sanders, D2 (1)- (Avia Tran D6)
Lyssa Goeke, D4 (1)- (Elizabeth Jeffrey D12)
Kelp Gousser, D4 (3)- (Aaron Pick D11, Cirket Norris D3, Boone Denton D10)
Isaac Jules, D5 (4)- (Rita Greendale D9, Yahu O'Neil D3, Kelp Gousser D4, Lindsey Savage D7)
Lindsey Savage, D7 (3)- (Renner Sander D2, Lush Alton D1, William Yee D12)
Abe Kilgore, D9 (1)- (Jersey Gaul D8)
Montana Brizuela, D10 (1)- (Deila Kannon D11)
Boone Denton, D10 (2)- (Lyssa Goeke D4, Magdelena O'Campo D2)
William Yee, D12 (1)- (Greer Kawsar D6)
Mutts/Other (1)- (Hermes Mangan D1- saber-toothed tiger mutts)
Victors
76th Hunger Games: Minnie Griffith, 17, TS (6) Kills (4), District Eleven (1 Female)
77th Hunger Games: Luna Sparks, 18, TS (7) Kills (5), District Five (1 Female)
78th Hunger Games: Marley Higgins, 16, TS (6) Kills (3), District Eight (1 Male)
79th Hunger Games: Maverick Sayles, 18, TS (9) Kills (3), District Four (1 Male)
80th Hunger Games: Lorien Hastings, 17, TS (9) Kills (5), District Two (1 Female)
81st Hunger Games: Fiona Dempsey, 18, TS (4) Kills (2), District Seven (1 Female)
82nd Hunger Games: Stella Knight, 18, TS (8) Kills (4), District One (1 Female)
83rd Hunger Games: Ranger Winchester, 16, TS (6) Kills (4), District Ten (1 Male)
84th Hunger Games: Slade DePriest, 18, TS (10) Kills (6), District Two (1 Female - 1 Male)
85th Hunger Games: Kyra O'Brien, 17, TS (9) Kills (4), District Four (1 Female - 1 Male)
86th Hunger Games: Isaiah Harlowe, 18, TS (6) Kills (5), District Eleven (1 Female - 1 Male)
87th Hunger Games: Sega Pirah, 18, TS (3) Kills (2), District Three (1 Female)
88th Hunger Games: Sterling Russeau, 17, TS (9) Kills (3), District One (1 Female - 1 Male)
89th Hunger Games: Milo Bradford, 18, TS (5) Kills (3), District Nine (1 Male)
90th Hunger Games: Leviticus 'Levi' Mitchell, 17, TS (5) Kills (3), District Eleven (1 Female - 2 Male)
91st Hunger Games: Heron Miller, 15, TS (5) Kills (3), District Seven (1 Female - 1 Male)
92nd Hunger Games: Aeriel Cooper, 17, TS (3) Kills (2), District Six (1 Female)
93rd Hunger Games: Laura Lee, 16, TS (6) Kills (5), District Twelve (1 Female)
94th Hunger Games: Nova Battles, 17, TS (9) Kills (6), District Two (2 Female - 1 Male)
95th Hunger Games: Nox Durant, 17, TS (10) Kills (6), District One (1 Female - 2 Male)
96th Hunger Games: Saylor Costa, 18, TS (9) Kills (4), District Four (1 Female - 2 Male)
97th Hunger Games: Lilac Kazner, 17, TS (5) Kills (2), District Eight (1 Female - 1 Male)
98th Hunger Games: Isaac Jules, 16, TS (7) Kills (4), District Five (1 Female - 1 Male)
